Greek Police Dismantle Athens Extortion Ring, Arrest 17

Greek Police have announced the arrest of 17 persons as part of a wide-ranging investigation focusing on an alleged extortion ring  specializing in “strong-arming” businesses in the greater Athens region for “protection” money.

The individuals have been charged with extortion, bombings, arson, assaults, drug trafficking, forgery, distribution of stolen goods and even hooligan violence, a police announcement posted on X stated on Tuesday. A press release was also posted on the Greek Police website, and in a Youtube video.

A total of 72 individuals were arrested in the wake of serious hooligan violence outside the Panathinaikos Athens football field last week before a friendly game against Cyprus’ AEK Larnaca, the incident that reportedly led a stepped up investigation that led to the link with the extortion ring. According to reports, two separate groups of Panathinaikos “fans” clashed outside the stadium, with gunshots fired.

The news follows another major organized crime case this month, as Greek police arrested 14 persons accused of forming a protection racket in the greater Athens area, with suspects including municipal and regional government employees, as well as two culture ministry staff members.

Authorities reiterated their call to business owners and managers, especially those in the food-&-beverage and nightlife sector, to immediately notify police when faced with extortion.

The Criminal Activities

A top police commander on Tuesday said the alleged members of the criminal gang “operated in various areas of Attica (prefecture), providing ‘protection’ to businesses and extorting various sums of money on a weekly or monthly basis from owners”.

“Additionally, it was discovered that a broad range of activities by the (racket) members included security at events, ensuring the safety of employees, intervening in potential incidents among patrons, controlling access to venues hosting events and acting as intermediaries in resolving personal or other disputes with threats or violence on behalf of clients,” the police commander said.

Raid

Authorities said a raid was conducted in the early morning hours of July 14 to arrest 17 individuals, three of whom were already incarcerated.

A voluminous case file includes indictments against another 32 persons, although arrest warrants for the latter are pending.

Greek police’s extortion division says it has already cleared 78 cases of extortion of businesses, five cases of arson, an explosion at a gas station in the port city of Piraeus and at a residence, as well as one assault.

Searches have turned up weapons, drugs and large sums of money during the raid.

The Announcement

The announcement of the Greek police can be found at the following video on X, in the Greek language.